MAKE POVERTY HISTORY - 2005

News Release

For immediate release: September 8, 2005

September 10 – International Day of Action to Help Make Poverty History

Canadians will join millions worldwide from Bogotá to Kabul on September 10 to help make poverty history as part of International White Band Day 2. The second white band day is strategically placed just days ahead of the United Nations Summit in New York (September 14 to 16) where ending poverty was to be prominently on the agenda.
 
“Unfortunately in the lead-up to the UN Summit the United States has suggested edits to the Summit Declaration removing key wording on tackling global poverty,” said Gerry Barr co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign. “With millions of people mobilizing on September 10, it will be difficult for world leaders at the United Nations to ignore the calls to act now to end global poverty.”
 
Prime Minister Paul Martin is scheduled to attend the UN Summit and tens of thousands of Canadians have already sent e-mails calling on him to announce at the Summit that Canada will devote 0.7% of its Gross National Income to ending global poverty.
 
In Canada, as part of the white band day activities, the cities of Calgary, Windsor, Ottawa, Toronto and Charlottetown are declaring September 10 Make Poverty History Day and in Edmonton, a “March for Global Justice” will take place at noon on Jasper Avenue. 
 
Student groups will also be active on September 10. In Saskatoon, all the trees on the University of Saskatchewan will be wrapped with white bands. Student leaders from three Vancouver campuses (Capilano College, UBC, SFU) will lead a march over the Burrard St. Bridge in an event dubbed “Bridging the Gap” and at the University of Toronto, Make Poverty History will be part of “Frosh Week” activities where thousands of new students are expected to march through the streets of Toronto.
 
Internationally, millions will participate in White Band Day 2.  In Afghanistan, children across Kabul will fly white kites. In France, the Eiffel Tower will be wrapped in white. In the UK, at the Oval cricket ground, thousands of spectators will hold up white cards virtually wrapping the grounds. And in Colombia, a concert is set for September 10 in Bogotá.
 
The Make Poverty History is calling for more and better aid, trade justice, 100% cancellation of the debt owed by the poorest countries and an end to child poverty in Canada.
 
Make Poverty History Canada is part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, the world’s largest anti-poverty coalition made up of national campaigns in over 70 countries.

Click here for the September 10 - Global White Band Day page

For more information contact:
Katia Gianneschi
Media Relations
Make Poverty History
(613) 241-7007

media@makepovertyhistory.ca

White Band Day 2 Calendar of Events

Student-led Activities

• University of Toronto - Friday September 9
  
  Thousands of students will march through downtown Toronto.
  
  Contact: Paul Bansal - (416) 978-4911 ext. 235  - Contact:orientation@sac.utoronto.ca
  
  
  
• University of Saskatchewan - Friday September 9
  
  Students will wrap all the trees on the central University of Saskatchewan campus with white bands.
  
  Contact: Tracey Mitchell - (306) 956-0622 - scicyouth@earthbeat.sk.ca
  
  
  
• Capilano College/University of British Columbia/Simon Fraser University - Saturday September 10
  
  “Bridging the Gap” march over the Burrard St. Bridge.
  
  Contact:  Lindsay Clarke - (604) 983-7570 ext. 3359 - csusjc@capcollege.bc.ca
  
  
  
• All East Coast campuses
  
  New students will get campaign information and white bands in their orientation packs. 
  
  Contact:  Allison Broadbent-Codjo - (506) 364-2112 - abroadbe@mta.ca

City Events

• Calgary, Alberta
  
  Eau Claire Plaza will be filled with drumming and Make Poverty History information.  
  Contact: Catherine Little – (403) 287-7212 or Bob Dickson – (403) 242-4403
  
  
  
• Regina, Saskatchewan
  
  Juno Award-winning African Guitar Summit will play at a free outdoor concert at the Wascana Park Bandshell. Other local celebrities will make surprise visits to endorse the campaign.
  
  Contact: Lori Latta – (306) 757-4669
  
  
  
• Edmonton, Alberta
  
  “March for Global Justice” on Jasper Avenue at noon followed by a Make Poverty History Concert and Fair at Sir Winston Churchill Square.  Entertainment by Bill Bourne, The Manhattan Project, the Vinyl Experiment and Harry Glasbeek, author of “Wealth by Stealth”.
  
  Contact:  Charie Klaussen – (780) 469-6088
  
  
  
• Ottawa, Ontario
  
  The Mayor's office will issue a proclamation declaring September 10 White Band Day.  Make Poverty History will participate in the Mayor’s Walk for Volunteerism. At noon, a human chain will form across the Laurier Bridge and a Make Poverty History banner will be dropped.
  
  Contact: Maia Seaden – (613)241-7007 ext. 354
  
  
  
• Winnipeg, Manitoba
  
  Engineers Without Borders, WUSC, and the MCIC will be hosting a Make Poverty History concert. 
  
  Contact: Richard Chaput – (204) 471-8074